Correspondence and Communications with Post / LIU

When Post first presented the arena project
to some of the local organizations, their attorney, Jim Murphy of Murphy,
Lynch and Gionnis, asked for community input and sought to deal with any
unfinished business that might get in the way of the current proposal. We
were assured that all outstanding complaints would be decisively and conclusively
dealt with. That assurance lasted about four days, or until our response
reached them. After he received a letter from the VRP, which is excerpted
here, we were told that none of our complaints would be addressed and
that none of our proposals would be given serious consideration.

We followed up with several phone calls to LIU President David Steinberg,
all of which were dodged. We then wrote to him and that letter
is excerpted here.

We were again told by Post's general counsel George Sutton, on March 6,
1996, that our complaints are without merit and our recommendations will
not be considered.

Several months after the proposal was abandoned, we contacted Dr. Steinberg
with a proposal of our own: the formation
of a joint committee of Post/LIU representatives and community organizations.Some history, for background and perspective:

In our most recent mailing (May 1996), we make reference to the large theater-marquis
sign (for the Tilles Center) at the West Gate of Post College, its relation
to local zoning ordinances and a phone call to Dr. Steinberg that was made
over 9 years ago. Here are some notes
on that issue.

In April 1990, LIU sought permission to construct a sewer pipe from
its campus to a point on the SUNY-Old Westbury campus where it would connect
to the county sewer system. This was the cheapest of three options offered
to them by their engineering firm to bring their waste water disposal procedures
into compliance with environmental laws. LIU made a variety of promises
and gave a variety of assurances at the permit
hearing. LIU's failure to live up to those terms has left it with damaged
credibility and the loss of the community's goodwill.

In December 1986, LIU sought permission to expand its stables and
riding area. At that hearing, a number of residents complained about a variety
of conditions on the Post campus and expressed their fears that expansion
of the stables would exacerbate those conditions. LIU's representatives
made a variety of promises concerning the removal of horse manure and gave
assurances about parking conditions that make for very entertaining reading,
today. Ask the Brookville Village Clerk for a copy of the transcript of
the 12/16/86 hearing. The greatest laugh of all came at the end of that
hearing, when Louis Catone, the Director of Facilities, stated: "If
any neighbor has any problems with anything that happens on our campus I
wish they would let me know, and I will take care of it."

Watch this space for more items from our archives, which span several
decades.